United Classroom

Howard Zinn said 'The presence of another human being is a powerful fact'. Let us open the walls of the classroom and provide our students the powerful fact of their fellow global citizens." - Zak Ringelstein, Co-Founder of UClass

United Classrooms helps students around the world become critical thinkers with a global vision. The purpose is to provide a platform for students to bring themselves to the learning experience and interact with perspectives that are beyond the four walls of their classroom. Like 21st-cenury pen-pals!

When a teacher signs their class up, students can log in to a secure classroom profile page where they can share content with their own teachers, classmates and parents AS WELL AS collaborate with other classrooms across the globe. It unites students from diverse backgrounds in the creation of a safe and dynamic global community where knowledge, experience and relationship are shared beyond the classroom walls.

UClass is completely FREE to use and has already atracted over 5,500 users in 42 countries in less than one year since it started. If you are a teacher, you will appreciate this (and so will your students)!

Co-Founders Zak Ringelstein and Leah Schrader talk about UClass at TEDx Claremon Colleges

Millenium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere (MAHB)

Foster, fuel and inspire a global dialogue on the interconnectedness of activities causing environmental degradation and social inequity;

Create and implement strategies for shifting human cultures and institutions towards sustainable practices and an equitable and satisfying future."

Stanford's MAHB is a nascent global network of social scientists, humanists, and scholars in related fields whose collective knowledge can be harnessed to support global civil society in shifting human cultures and institutions toward sustainable practices and an equitable and satisfying future.

In this site you will find a network of natural and social scientists ("associates") and institutions ("nodes") that collectively construct an inter-disciplinary vision of what sustainability might look like: economic systems that depend on agility and equity without depending on growth, social systems that recognize the limits of our ecosystems, energy and resource infrastructure, and governance: a world where most people can meet their basic needs while enjoying a high quality of life. 

This is also a platform where associates and nodes can share resources, connect with one another, post events and coordinate efforts.

Screenshot of MAHB library topics

The Internet Defense League

If you have a website and care about the future of the internet, then this is for you. The Internet Defense League (IDL) is a newly launched early warning system for any law that threatens the freedom of the internet to coordinate and call action to protect it. To quote the IDL website:

The Internet Defense League takes the tactic that killed SOPA & PIPA and turns it into a permanent force for defending the internet, and making it better. Think of it like the internet's Emergency Broadcast System, or its bat signal!

The Problem

Internet freedom and individual power are changing the course of history. But entrenched institutions and monopolies want this to stop. Elected leaders often don't understand the internet, so they're easily confused or corrupted.

The plan

When the internet's in danger and we need millions of people to act, the League will ask its members to broadcast an action.  (Say, a prominent message asking everyone to call their elected leaders.)  With the combined reach of our websites and social networks, we can be massively more effective than any one organization.

How it works

First, sign up.  If you have a website, they will send you sample alert code to get working in advance.  The next time there's an emergency, they will tell you and send new code.  Then it's your decision to pull the trigger.

AuthorAID

The mission — to reduce poverty and improve population health, and to build science and research capacity in developing countries where the problems reside — is likely to engage established scientists who want to help but lack simple means. - Phyllis Freeman and Anthony Robbins

Scientists from developing countries are currently underrepresented as authors in published scientific literature. AuthorAID aims to change that by helping researchers in developing countries write and publish their work. One way it does so is by helping early-career researchers find mentors who can help them with their writing and research and providing them with a user-friendly online space in which they can collaborate, completely free of charge. 

As Freeman and Robbins (2005) state in Closing the 'Publishing Gap' between rich and poor, "Authors needing help are not in short supply, nor are potential voluntary mentors. Experienced, often-published scientists at or near retirement appear especially eager to help." AuthorAID's dynamic online community of senior researchers could help thousands of authors around the world who do not have enough analytic and editorial support. To date, nearly 3700 researchers and others, from more than 150 countries, have registered with AuthorAID. Nearly 600 have registered as mentors. 

• Search by country, field of research, or keyword to find a researcher
• Sign up to be matched with a mentor or a mentee
• Browse their research communication resource library
• Training events, support to find funding, and more

  Find out what AuthorAID looks for in its mentors and mentees.  Available in English and Spanish.

Idealist.org

How do we make sure that every person in the world who wants to make a difference has an opportunity to do so?" - Ami Dar, Founder Idealist.org

Arguably THE best, most practical, and trusted source for jobs, internships, volunteer positions, etc for the non-profit sector. Unlike most non-profit websites, Idealist also has a very strong global presence, so opportunities are not restricted to a single country. In 2010 Idealist.org introduced their new and improved version of their website a brand new design and a slew of new features for connecting with people and organizations, saving searches, inviting people to events, and much more. It empowers people & organizations to move from their intentions to actions by connecting people, organizations, and resources in every possible way, while spreading good ideas as far and as quickly as possible. Also has unique local search function and an emphasis on face-to-face connection. Available in English, Spanish, French. Highly recommended! Some highlights from their site:

• Advanced Search Functions: Browse through thousands of jobs, internships, volunteer positions, organizations, resources etc.
• Graduate Degree Fairs: Graduate school fairs to connect prospective students in fields such as public administration, international affairs, education, public policy, public interest law, social work, nonprofit management, global and public health, theology, environmental science, and socially responsible business. Free and open to the public!
• iTunes Podcasts: This podcast tells stories of individuals and groups changing their communities in innovative ways to inspire you to do the same as well as interviews with nonprofit professionals about developing your career in the public good.

Information Centers

• Volunteer Resource Center: Offers advice and leads for people interested in volunteering, whether in their own communities or in far-off places.
• International Volunterism Resource Center: Provides advice and tips for anyone interested in volunteering abroad, whether on their own or through a volunteer-sending organization.
• Resources for Nonprofit Organizations: Delves into all sorts of specific issues in the nonprofit sector, from building a board to obtaining tax-exemption to using the right technology in your organization.
• Nonprofit Career Center: Provides guidance to people starting or changing careers, with advice on everything from resume-writing to sector-switching.
• Graduate School Resource Center:Contains a wealth of advice and tools for people considering graduate school and its connection to their future social change careers.

Books and Publications

• The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World
• The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for Sector Switchers
• The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers
• Service Corps to Social Impact Career – A Companion to The Idealist Guides to Nonprofit Careers
• Making a Difference: A Guide to Personal Profit in a Nonprofit World

International Education and Resource Network (iEARN)

iEARN is a non-profit organization made up of over 30,000 schools and youth organizations in more than 130 countries. iEARN empowers teachers and young people to work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies. Over 2,000,000 students each day are engaged in collaborative project work worldwide. Since 1988, iEARN has pioneered on-line school linkages to enable students to engage in meaningful educational projects with peers in their countries and around the world. Particularly notable is iEARN's Collaboration Center, with over 40,000 teachers and 2 million students participating and collaborating in 200+ Forums in 30 languages!

iEARN Project: Youth Communicating and Networking (YouthCaN)

YouthCaN is a Youth-run organization that uses technology to inspire, connect, and educate people worldwide about environmental issues. Through a network of conferences, activities and events, YouthCaN unites environmentally active youth to exchange ideas about the environment and empower others to make a difference in their own communities. Through the Internet, YouthCaNers around the globe (and their teachers) exchange ideas through the YouthCaN Discussion Forum. Best of all, anyone can Join! (The vagueness of the word “Youth” allows for anyone who feels youthful to feel welcome, regardless of age) Live YouthCaN events take place each April around the world, including in Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Senegal, and the USA. The NYC, USA event takes place at the American Museum of Natural History. 

Opening ceremony at the YouthCaN 2008 World Conference about water issues (Image Credit: Francisco Laso)

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

Sometimes called "Willing Workers On Organic Farms", WWOOF is a network of national organisations that facilitate placement of volunteers on organic farms. WWOOFing aims to provide volunteers with first-hand experience in organic and ecologically sound growing methods, to help the organic movement, and to let volunteers experience life in a rural setting or a different country. WWOOF volunteers ('WWOOFers') generally do not receive financial payment. The host provides food, accommodation, and opportunities to learn, in exchange for assistance with farming or gardening activities. A fantastic way to spend your time abroad and meet great people while traveling on a budget. Highly recommended!

Below is the trailer to the upcoming documentary about the organization.